Newsletter of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
January-February,2003
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Newsletter of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission |
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January-February,2003 |
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Pakistan’s
nuclear facilities are safe and secure.
Pakistan
has a proven nuclear safety track record as verified by world nuclear bodies
like International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and World Association of Nuclear
Operators (WANO). This was stated by Chairman, PAEC, Parvez Butt, while
inaugurating a three-day workshop jointly organized by Pakistan Nuclear
Regulatory Authority (PNRA) and IAEA on "Safety Standards for Design of
Nuclear Power Plants", at Islamabad from 3-6 February, 2003
For
attaining safe nuclear operations, PAEC has been at the forefront for promoting
the establishment of an independent nuclear regulatory authority and after
coming into existence of PNRA, PAEC establishments now fully comply with the
guidelines provided by it. Similar guideline functions were being performed
previously by Directorate of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection, PAEC also works in close collaboration with IAEA and WANO for establishing
safe operational practices and procedures. These world bodies, during the entire
course of our nuclear power operations, have endorsed the safety of our plants
through peer reviews and other professional evaluations.
Chairman
PAEC opined that after the Chernobyl accident, the safety regime and culture
in nuclear operations was made enormously robust, vigilant and reliable. Thanks
to these efforts, no nuclear accident occurred after that.
Appreciating
the significance of the Workshop, Mr. Butt said, a sound design is the
foundation of a safe nuclear power plant. Deploring the denial of detailed
nuclear plant experience possessed by the advanced countries to the developing
countries, he said this know-how is being shared only in the area of safety. He
paid tributes to IAEA for consolidating foolproof operational and safety
standards for nuclear plants.
For
being self sufficient in nuclear plant operations, PAEC has set up its own
training institutes like Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied
Sciences (PlEAS), Karachi Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering (KINPOE) and
CHASCENT at Chashma, which are providing trained manpower for our operations.
Nuclear
power, apart from being safe, clean and cost effective, is needed by Pakistan
for providing stability to the national grid during winter seasons when the
hydel production is reduced due to low availability of water in the rivers Based
upon its own technical resources and 30 years of operational experience, PAEC,
in consultation with IAEA and PNRA, is working for the extension by 12-15 years
in the design life of KANUPP. This trend is in vogue in other countries also as
the extension in life provides cheaper bonus energy not taken into consideration
in earlier feasibility studies.
Mr.
M. Gasparini, from the Safety Division of IAEA, said that this is the first
workshop on safety standards and several will follow Guidelines and practices on
safety, prepared by IAEA, have been endorsed by all member states. New plants
will not be incensed until the latest guidelines are incorporated, he added
Mr.
Jamshed Azim Hashmi, Chairman, Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority commended the initiative of PAEC, the largest stake holder in nuclear facilities in
Pakistan, for putting in efforts to evolve better safety practices and culture.
A series of national workshops are planned under IAEA TC Project on
"Strengthening of Nuclear Regulatory Authority in Pakistan". This is
the first workshop of this series on Safety Standards for Design of NPPs.
Evolving a common understanding vis-à-vis licensee about the current
international safety standards being used in the design of NPPs is essential and
in addition to imparting knowledge, these work- shops will foster a culture of
exchange of technical know-how and information among the PNRA and the licensees.
CHASNUPP
connected back to grid after first refueling outage
Ignoring
a temporary grid connection for the Turbine Overspeed Test, CHASNUPP was
connected back to the Grid at 12:09 hrs. on 18 January 2003, signifying the
formal end of the refueling outage (RFO) # 1', over a period of 110 days 2 hrs.
and 15 minutes after disconnection from the Grid.
The
scope of work in this outage was quite extensive. Besides the main objective of
refueling the reactor, many major equipment were overhauled and maintenance-inspected including the RCP-A Motor and the Main Transformer.
Sludge balancing of the Steam Generators was carried out. The Turbine
Generator was overhauled and inspected. The Integrated leak Rate Test and
Structural Integrity Test of the Containment Building were performed at 15%
above de- sign pressure.
The
plant organization has gained a lot of experience and valuable information about
detailed planning and preparation, reporting of abnormalities, control of
modifications, co-ordination between various work units, post- maintenance
testing, etc. This know-how will certainly be of great advantage for more
efficient outage management in the future. It is a matter of satisfaction that
the total radiation dose to workers remained less than 35% of the target of
800 mSv, and there was no significant industrial safety event.
Atomic energy playing siginificant role in boosting up agriculture production
Application
of nuclear energy in agriculture can playa vital role in boosting up
agricultural production, thereby leading to poverty alleviation and
socio-economic development. This was stated by Pakistan Agricultural Research
Council (PARC) Chairman, Dr. Badaruddin Soomro during his visit to Nuclear
Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar, on 24 January, 2003.
Referring
to the steps taken by the researchers of different organizations including
PAEC agriculture centers, he said harnessing agriculture frontiers on
scientific lines was a key to success The goal oriented research is the need of
the day and PARC would be very much pleased to support applied research in the country. The future of Pakistan
depended
on the success of science and
Dr.
Badaruddin Soomro said that Government was giving top priority to the
agriculture sector for economic uplift. He said due to the dedicated efforts of
the scientists, Pakistan has started exporting wheat and progressively making
its way into the international market. He said if Pakistan wanted to compete
in the export market then we would have to follow the WTO standards. Dr Soomro
highlighted the PARC's contribution towards National Agricultural Research System Development, and strengthening
research, education and extension linkage.
He said the Government had allowed the PARC to establish an agricultural
research endowment fund. PARC has already provided two national interest ALP
projects to NIFA. Five more projects are approved in the field of "
entomology, saline agriculture and crop mutation
breeding. Presently PARC in collaboration with PAEC is executing a project
on Saline Agriculture Development in Pakistan.
Director
NIFA, Dr. M. Jamil Qureshi, highlighted the achievements made by NIFA in the
field of food and agriculture and the efforts made in human resource
development for sustainable agriculture productivity. He said about 70
percent people in the country are directly linked with agriculture and the
development in this field would improve the socioeconomic conditions of the
people. The success of an agricultural project depends on how it can modify the
old methods of farming. NIFA has developed eight high-yielding, widely adapted
and disease-resistant crop, varieties of wheat, chickpea and brassica.
NIFA
has also done a remarkable job in preservation of food commodities by nuclear
and other advanced techniques. An economical and efficient solar dryer has
been developed for the farming community and also standardized methods of shelf
life extension of fresh fruits. NIFA is also engaged in research on integrated
pest management in order to reduce losses and promote environment-friendly
technologies, and collaborating in a national project on iron fortification of
wheat flour. NIFA has provided training to more than 500 participants in
different courses.
KANUPP
reactivates by June 2003
Work
on Plant Life Extension in full swing
The
Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) will be brought back in operation by the
middle of2003, when it will start providing 80-100 MWe electricity to the
grid.
KANUPP
started commercial operation in 1972 and completed its designed life of 30 years
on December 5,2002. In spite of many challenges and restrictions imposed by the
supplier countries, the plant was kept operating safely by embarking on a
well-planned programme initiated by the PAEC, based on self reliance, to
overcome the problems due to lack of vendor's support.
During
the first 15 years of plant life, attention focused mainly on keeping the plant
operational by producing the nuclear fuel indigenously and by maintaining
the plant system and equipment through development of the needed know-how and a
capability to produce spares. This made the continued operation of the plant
possible without any vendor support. On the basis of operation and maintenance
experience, PAEC initiated various projects to combat aging problems and for
safety upgrades of the plant during its design life and to judge if it could be
operated safely beyond its design life. The Effective Full Power Years (EFPY) by
end 2002 amount to only 10.8 due to the fact that plant has mostly operated at
reduced power owing to international embargoes by the vendor countries. This
fact, together with good health of critical components of reactor systems as
revealed by various periodic inspection program, enabled PAEC to go for Plant
Life Extension (PLEX) of KANUPP through implementation of different development
projects including Technological Upgradation Project (TUP), Safe Operation of
KANUPP (SOK) and Balancing, Modernization & Rehabilitation (BMR) projects.
The
major areas of improvement covered under TUP are the replacement of obsolete
Computers, Control and Instrumentation (CC&I). The SOK project, envisages enhancement in plant safety as far as possible in line with current
international standards and practices through: Inspection/review of critical
components such as Fuel Channel, Steam Generator, Fueling Machine; Improvement
in Operational Safety through Aging Management, Equipment Qualification,
Surveillance, Physical Protection, Operators Training, etc.; Design reviews and
modifications e.g. Revision of Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR), PSA
Level-1 completion and modification in safety systems such as Emergency Core
Cooling, Emergency Feed Water, Essential Power, Seismic Re-assessment and
retrofitting.
The
BMR project catered for replacement of obsolete and aged electrical and
mechanical equipment of conventional side.
The
safety record of KANUPP during 30 years operation remained excellent as was
endorsed by several review missions like IAEA-OSART in 1985 and 1989, IAEA-ASSET in 1989, WANO Peer review in 1994, 1996 and 2000.
The
reactor was shut down on the completion of its 30 years' life to meet the
re-licensing requirement of the PNRA. On the day it was shut down the plant had
achieved an availability factor of 80 per cent during the calendar year.
During this re-licensing outage, many design changes, improvements and safety
upgrades are being implemented to bring the plant closer to the current safety
standards while some aging and obsolete system will also be replaced or
refurbished.
In
the wake of on going improvements and safety upgrades, KANUPP is expected to ,
continue to operate safely and efficiently for 10 to 15 years beyond its
designed life, in line with current international standards, after relicensing by
PNRA.
The
work on Plant Life Extension (PLEX) of KANUPP, being undertaken mostly with
local efforts, would not only help in meeting electricity short fall to the
metropolitan city of Karachi but would also establish another landmark to
self reliance and indigenisation program of PAEC.
Testing
of Reactor Power Regulation
Function
The reactivity control systems at KANUPP are divided into two groups based on operating speed The fast acting systems include moderator level control which is the primary method of reactivity control and reactor power regulation for KANUPP.
The
safety record of KANUPP during 30 years operation remained excellent as
was endorsed by several review missions like IAEA-OSART in 1985 and 1989, IAEA-ASSET
in 1989, WANO Peer review in 1994, 1996 and 2000. During this
re-licensing outage, many design changes, improvements and safety upgrades are
being implemented to bring the plant closer to the current safety standards
while some aging and obsolete system will also be replaced or refurbished. In
the wake of on-going improvements and safety upgrades, KANUPP is expected to continue to operate safely and efficiently for 10 to
15 years beyond its designed life, in line with current international standards,
after re-licensing by PNRA.
The
Plant was originally designed using centralized Direct Digital Control
Computers to control the reactivity and the neutron power of reactor to match
the turbine demand and maintain a constant steam pressure during power
generation.
Due to phenomenal developments
in the
field of electronics and computers, these computers became obsolete very early
in the plant life. An in-house facility was developed to keep the plant
computers operational. How- ever, it soon turned out that the solution lay in
their replacement with modern Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) providing
distributed approach as against the existing philosophy of large computer
performing multiple functions including regulation, annunciation, monitoring,
logging and computations.
The task of replacement was entrusted to
engineers working for TUP (Technological Upgradation Project). Only the
essential equipment was purchased from abroad while all the engineering has been
done by KANUPP including application software development. This resulted in
saving millions of dollars in foreign exchange and the development of in-house
design and development capabilities.
KANUPP
is probably the only nuclear power plant to have undertaken such large scale
replacement of computers, control and instrumentation without vendor support.
The comprehensive off-line testing was in progress for the last 2 to 3 years.
Keeping in view the complex nature of work associated with the replacement of
existing regulating computers, it was decided to test the performance of new
system by performing reactor power regulation function in place of one of the
existing computer ARC. The second computer BRC remained available with full
functionality during this testing Reactor was made critical and Plant was
synchronized with the grid and operated for 21 days using this new System. Final
on-line "load rejection test" was successfully carried out on December 4, 2002. This test was witnessed by senior personnel from PAEC and
PNRA.
Now that the on-line testing is complete,
both plant controlling computers will be replaced in the present shutdown. The
experience and confidence gained through the successful designing and
commissioning of the new regulating system will go a long way in completing
other projects related with plant life extension.
KANUPP
Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) Level
1
Safe Operation of KANUPP has always been
a priority. To this end, a number of expert missions from IAEA have been invited
by PAEC. As a result of such a mission, it was felt that a Probabilistic Safety
Assessment Level 1 (PSA-1) for KANUPP should be undertaken. This involves
development of detailed system models (fault trees) and accident sequences
(event trees) for the plant. In addition, extensive human reliability analysis (HRA)
is required to be done. Since KANUPP has a long operating history, it was
decided to use a plant specific component failure database. Bayesian statistical
methods were used to update priors, obtained from generic data, to get
posterior distributions. The maintenance and initiating event frequency
database was also developed from plant specific information.
Risk
Spectrum, a Swedish PSA software, was used for analysis. The objectives of the
PSA included: better understanding of the plant and interactions between
systems, uncovering design weaknesses and suggesting possible improvements,
evaluation of allowed outage times (AOTs) for critical components,
optimization of surveillance test interval (STIs), and, operator training.
IAEA experts visited KANUPP at various
milestones to review the work and suggest improvements, if any. This was an
important factor in maintaining the high quality of the study. After completion
of the study a pre-IPSART and then a full scope IPSART mission of the IAEA
took place to evaluate the technical quality of the PSA Their conclusion was
that the study was of a high technical quality and very professional. The IAEA
expert during the study felt that this was mainly due to the dedication, sense
of responsibility and feel of ownership displayed by the PSA team.
As a result of this study, KANUPP, and
thus PAEC, has developed considerable expertise in the areas of Data Analysis,
Human Reliability Analysis, Fault Tree Development & Analysis, Event Tree
Development & Analysis, PSA Results Interpretation, and PSA Application.The
expertise developed at KANUPP PSA will also be utilized not only to ensure
CHASNUPP PSA quality but also to transfer know how to the on site CHASNUPP PSA
team KANUPP operators gratefully acknowledge and appreciate the assistance
provided by IAEA and the IAEA Experts.
The KANUPP PSA team is now involved in
PSA Application covering Design Improvement, Allowed Outage Time (AOT) Evaluation, and Surveillance Test Interval (STI) Evaluation. First task of PSA
Application i.e. Design Improvement has been completed. The AOT & STI
evaluation has its own specific model requirement.
The recommended design improvements are
now being integrated into the model and some changes required for AOT & STI
evaluation are being incorporated. It has been decided to conduct a detailed
Fire PSA, expected to be completed in 2005.
Indigenisation
only way to attain prosperity and national security
PAEC
Chairman calls for self-reliance in science and technology.
Indigenous
scientific solutions are the only path to attain prosperity and security for the
nation as the borrowed knowledge under mechanisms of transfer of technology
serve only limited purposes in limited areas, thereby making a recipient nation
ever de- pendent on such dole outs. This was stated by Chairman, PAEC while
inaugurating the three day, meeting on "Science & Technology
-Capacity Building for Sustainable Development", organized by Commission
on Science & Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS),
at Islamabad from 19-21 February, 2003.
There is no alternative to self acquired
know how in solution of problems because only a comprehensive scientific base
worked out by our own scientists and engineers can ensure the socio-economic
uplift of the nation. Mindful of this reality, PAEC has always aimed to train
its own human resource in diverse disciplines like applied research,
agricultural development, informatics, nuclear technology, design systems and
basic Industrial skills.
To ensure this target of self reliance in
human resource, PAEC has set up multi-disciplinary educational institutes like
PlEAS, CTC, KINPOE, CHASCENT, PWI and NCNDT. A well cultivated trained
manpower emerging out of these centres has not only sustained PAEC's own high
tech initiatives in various spheres of nation building but services of these
scientists and engineers are also available for consultation and assistance to
local industry.
Mr.
Butt opined that Science & Technology in the country must be able to muster
its own resources for the prosperity and security of the motherland. We should
be capable of digging out from the earth what nature has bestowed for us and
then grow and construct for our needs. These indigenous endeavors will bring
about happiness, satisfaction and motivation for each citizen as these are the
ingredients of sustainable development. Chairman, PAEC appreciated the due recognition to science and technology accorded by the government during the last 3-4
years which has resulted in substantial increase in the budget of S& T.
Stressing indigenisation as the diving force, Mr. Butt recounted the
Chairman PAEC was appreciative of the
role of COMSATS which it is playing for the promotion of a culture of
science and technology in
the country and within its members.
Mr.
Hameed Ahmed Khan, Executive Director, COMSATS, said that sustainable development includes not only less
environmental degradation and less pollution but also reduction in several other ailments of society
poverty, illiteracy,
disease, war, corruption and gender inequality. To develop an S&T base
strong enough to support a nation's: launch towards sustainable development, it
, requires building of new capacities and expansion of existing ones.
Developing countries are constrained for the lack of necessary capacity to
perform.
Dr. Khan enumerated the services of COMSATS in the areas of information technology, education, health, distance learning, internet services bio-technology, etc
Appreciating
the role of PAEC, Dr. Khan said that PAEC has played a central role in the
capacity building not only in Pakistan but also in the developing world and it
has great potential to achieve Pakistan's objectives of sustainable
development. History "has proved that Pakistan has developed most of its
capacity despite severe constraints and pressures.
NEWS
BRIEFS
Messrs. Miroslav Lipar (Slovak) and
Francisco Perramon (Spain) conducted an OSART Preparatory Meeting at CHASNUPP
from 6-10 January, 2003.
Mr. Roland Geiger (Germany) carried out
assignment at National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad from
11-16 January, 2003 to install equipment for the Workshop on the
Surveillance of Rinderpest and to lecture on the Diagnosis of Rinderpest and PPR
under Project -Setting up Immunoassay and Molecular Based Methods to Monitor
and Survey Rinderpest Disease.
Messrs. Oividiu Coman (Romania) and Marin
J. Jordanov (Bulgaria) carried out assignment at KNPC from 20-31 January, 2003,
for Review of Design of Delayed Neutron Activity Monitoring System under
project -Improving Safety Features of KANUPP .
Mr. Ingemar Lund (Sweden) carried out
assignment at PNRA, Islamabad from 27-3.1 January, 2003 to Assist Regulatory
Authority for Revising National Mandatory to Implement ALARA Principle in
Nuclear Power Plants under Project -Improving Occupational Radiation
Protection in Nuclear Power Plants in Member States in the Asian Region. He also
visited CHASNUPP on 30 January, 2003
Mr. Franz Berkessy (Germany) carried out
assignment at NCNDT, Islamabad from 28 January to 1 st February, 2003 for
Installation and Commissioning of Corrosion Monitoring System supplied under
Project -Non-Destructive Evaluation of Pressurized Components and Concrete
Testing.
PAEC in co-operation with World
Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO- TC) hosted Workshop on Effective
Utilization of Operating Experience to Improve Operational Safety at Islamabad
from 21-23 January, 2003, followed by technical tour to CHASNUPP Plant, Kundian
from 24-25 January, 2003.
The WANO-TC Workshop was attended by
participants from Pakistan, Japan, Sweden, China and R.O.Korea.
Day to day replication and reproduction,
and proper delivery of the prescribed dose to the target volume is hallmark of
proper radiotherapy. Shielding of the vital organs in/or around target volume
is of great importance. Modern radiotherapy department needs more and more
complex planning to deliver designated dose to the tumor and spare normal tissue
to the maximum. Proper execution of the dose is not possible without adequate
arrangements. Various equipment are being used all over the world, including
fixing and shielding devices. Mould room facility is an essential part of a good
radiotherapy department. The preparation of the shielding material is a complex job and
a number of machines are used.
A mould room facility has recently been
designed and fabricated locally at PAEC's Centre for Nuclear Medicine and
Radiotherapy (CENAR), Quetta. Equipment like Styro Former, Electron cutter,
Block Verifier, Alloymeter, Cooling Tray, Shielding trays, etc., was first
tested on experimental basis and found of good quality Now this is part of
treatment planning set up and used to improve treatment quality and proper dose
de- livery system for the patients and reduce the undue exposure to the vital
areas. The total expenditure for six items is approximately 2.5% of the cost of
imported equipment, thereby effecting a saving of more than Rs. 3 million in
foreign exchange. CENAR is now in a position to manufacture mould-room equipment
and transfer this technology to other centres.
Recently
Chairman PAEC Mr. Parvez Butt visited the centre and appreciated the efforts of
CENAR and encouraged local fabrication of such equipment for other medical
centres of PAEC.
Mr. Mohammad Hussain Sr. Technologist has
designed and fabricated this equipment He was trained on Mould-room Techniques
in Australia, under IAEA programme.
Quality
Awareness Programme
It is believed that this century will be
the century of quality where the survival of organizations will primarily
depend upon quality of items and services they provide and the economies of
nations, to a large extent, will likewise depend upon the quality of export
items they produce since this will directly affect their foreign exchange
earnings The generic principles of quality, quality control and quality
assurance can be applied to bring about improvements in every field of application These principles are also Instrumental.
in enhancing the overall safety of
nuclear facilities such as laboratories and commercially operating NPPs etc.,
when applied as per applicable criteria such as the relevant codes and
standards.
The
Directorate of Quality Assurance (DQA), has conceived a quality awareness programme to promote quality culture and to encourage organizations to adopt
quality management systems and thus change the mindset so that quality is
considered as a tool for better management. This programme, based on following
two components, is structured to impart basic knowledge and core concepts of
quality, quality control, quality assurance and quality management systems
(i) Short seminars for middle management
on: Total quality management -introduction to Dr. Deming's philosophy, Basic
concepts of quality, quality assurance, quality control and inherent benefits of
introducing quality management systems, Criteria for developing Quality
Assurance Programmes for nuclear applications.
(ii) QA/QC Qualification/Certification
Programme, with a comprehensive 2-3 weeks intensive QA Course, based on 6
modules: Basic concepts, Total quality management, QA Programmes and procedures,
Elements of QA programmes for nuclear applications, Quality Planning and
implementation, Methods of auditing and surveillance.
First seminar in this series was
delivered by Mr. M. Azim, Director, DQA on "Total quality management
-introduction to Dr. Deming's philosophy" on 15 January, 2003 at NCNDT
which was attended by 59 participants from nine PAEC establishments. It is
planned to hold more seminars at various establishments of PAEC.
New Campus of Pakistan Welding Institute at Islamabad
PAEC helping local industry in designing, welding and fabrication
capabilities and quality testing techniques
Pakistan
Atomic Energy Commission has undertaken numerous projects to impart training to
local industry in basic industrial techniques. This was stated by PAEC Chairman Mr Parvez Butt at the opening of
construction of new campus of Pakistan
Welding Institute at Scientific and Engineering Services (SES) Directorate,
Islamabad.
As a part of its research and development
programme, PAEC is undertaking various projects for imparting training to local
industry in basic skills of designing, industrial welding techniques,
fabrication capabilities and quality testing techniques. For the industrial development in the country, we must develop human resource, which is holder of
basic skills to ensure sustainable growth of technology for maintaining a
competitive edge in the emerging markets where value addition is technological
driven, he said.
Talking about the genesis and necessity
of the Pakistan Welding Institute, Mr. Butt explained that as welding forms
necessary part of fabrication, therefore, the ultimate quality of goods depends
upon deeper under- standing of welding technology. That is why regular training
in welding as a discipline of study is needed for the industry
Discussing the stages of
industrial development of the country, Mr. Parvez Butt said, the first stage
of import of machines and plants is being replaced by indigenous production and
that is where Pakistan Welding Institute would playa significant role. For this
purpose, PAEC established Pakistan Welding Institute in 1995. PWI has so far
provided training and certification to 725 participants coming from 110 premier
national engineering companies and defense organizations.
Besides,
it has qualified about a hundred organizations in industrial welding procedures, he added
For the industrial development in the
country, we must develop human resource, which is holder of basic skills to
ensure sustainable growth of technology for maintaining a competitive edge
in the emerging markets where value addition is technological driven. As a pan
of its research and development programme, PAEC is undertaking various
projects for imparting training to local industry in basic skills of designing,
industrial welding techniques, fabrication capabilities and quality testing
techniques.
The new campus of the institute would enhance its training quantum for higher number of trainees and also add more
facilities to its technical education programme. PAEC has a professional group
engaged in consultancy in the design of industrial equipment and plants like
sugar plants, cement plants, chemical units, refinery equipment and mechanical
workshops. The services of the institute are also available for installation
of
Talking about PAEC's cooperation with
local industry, Mr Butt said, the Commission has set up a state-of the-art
fabrication workshop, which offers assistance to local industry in manufacturing
a variety of machines, equipment and plants like pressure vessels, heat
exchanger, distillation towers, pressure piping, furnaces, overhead cranes,
boilers, columns, heavy steel structures and other components of industrial
plants. To complement these manufacturing skills, the quality assurance tools
are necessary for the safety and performance guarantee to end user and PAEC,
besides Pakistan Welding Institute, is also running National Center for Non-Destructive Testing (NCNDT), which imparts training to inspectors in various
quality assurance testing techniques.
The Chairman and other senior
officers of PAEC were briefed on the salient features of the new capmus by Mr
Muhammad Naeem, Manager, PWI. It will be a four-storey building consisting of two
well-equipped workshops with the handling facilities of upto 10 ton capacity
with the crane hook clearance of 25 ft. for the manufacture of specialized equipment for PAEC and local industry. For the practical orientation of the
trainees, a sophisticated training area supported by a modern library
incorporating audio-visual aids and latest codes / standards will be provided.
Metallography and chemical analysis labs. modern equipped lecture rooms and
latest welding inspection & testing techniques supported by adjacent NCNDT
building will make a unique blend of facilities available to local industry at
one place. The new campus is planned to be completed in one year.
National Training Course at NIBGE, Faislabad.
Molecular Diagnosis of Rinderpest and Other morbilliviruses
Morbilliviruses
viruses (e.g., measles & rinderpest) are of major imponance in both human and veterinary medicine. In humans, measles virus remains one of the most
significant causes of death in young children in the less developed pans of
the world. Historically, rinderpest (cattle plague) is the most devastating
disease of the cattle Thus it has a great potential of inducing huge losses in
livestock due to high monality in the affected animals.
Rinderpest virus and other
morbilliviruses are difficult to differentiate antigenically because of their
strong cross-reactivity and it is also difficult to distinguish them from
several other viral and bacterial pathogens that share similar clinical signs.
They are, therefore, ideal viruses to diagnose and characterize using polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) technology.
As an assistance to the rinderpest eradication campaign of Government of Pakistan, PCR based diagnostic
facilities for rinderpest and other morbilliviruses have been established at
NIBGE, Faisalabad, through an IAEA Project. NIBGE is the only institute in the
country where for the first time PCR- based diagnostic facilities for animal diseases have been established. With a view to disseminate background information
about molecular diagnosis and practical training of PCR based diagnostics of
rinderpest and other morbilliviruses, a national short-term training course on
molecular diagnosis of rinderpest and other morbilliviruses, was held from 3-7th
Feb, 2003
Professor Dr. Manzoor Ahmad, Vice Chancellor University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, inaugurated the
course.
The course consisted of lectures and laboratory practicals. Sixteen
participants were selected from various
organizations including; Veterinary Research Institutes, Lahore and Peshawar,
National Veterinary Laboratory NARC, Islamabad, INMOL Lahore, PINUM, Faisalabad,
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Veterinary College Gomal
University, 0.1 Khan, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, and Army Veterinary
Corps, etc.
The
lectures ranged from very basic level to the state-of-the-an application of
molecular diagnostics. Comprehensive background was provided about principles of
Molecular Biology, DNA, RNA, Transcription & Translation, Replication,
Principles of PCR, Primer designing, applications of the PCR, problems with PCR,
analysis of PCR results, Preparation of samples for PCR, Optimization of PCR,
Confirmation of identity of PCR product, differential diagnosis, good
laboratory practices, etc.
Faculty of the course included Dr. Thomas
Barrott from Institute for Animal Health, Surrey, UK who visited NIBGE as an
IAEA expert, Dr. Ahmad Mukhtar Khalid, Director, NIBGE, Dr. Muhammad Afzal,
Member, Animal Sciences, PARC, Islamabad, Dr. Rafaqat Hussain Raja, Animal
Husbandry Commissioner, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Dr. Manzoor
Hussain, National Consultant on Rinderpest and Dr. Qaiser Mahmood Khan, the
course organizer.
While addressing the concluding session
of the course, the chief guest, Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik, Member (Biosciencesl
Admin) PAEC hoped that this course will assist in diagnostic capabilities and
improvement of national epidemiological capabilities leading
to
the complete elimination of the Rinderpest. He awarded certificates to the
successful participants of the course. He also thanked Dr. Thomas Barrott (IAEA
Expert) for visiting Pakistan and delivering lectures and providing practical
training during the course.
The
guests were briefed about the course by Dr. Thomas Barrett (IAEA Expert), Dr Ah
mad Mukhtar Khalid and Dr. Qaiser Mahmood Khan (Course Organizer)
Dr. Ahmad Mukhtar Khalid, Director, NIBGE,
offered assistance and training required for setting up of PCR-based diagnostic
at other organizations. He also highlighted the importance of research and
development in the animal biotechnology field for improvement of animal health
and production in the country. For the last several years, NIBGE is work- ing on
various areas of animal science including molecular biology of animal and
poultry viruses. The need for setting up of a research group on "Animal
Biotechnology" was emphasized.
After the completion of the course, Dr. Thomas Barrett delivered lectures at Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad and at National Institute for Animal Sciences, NARC, Islamabad. He also had very useful meetings with Chairman, PAEC, Mr. Parvez Butt and Dr. Kauser. A. Malik. In these meetings, significance of future collaboration between NIBGE and Institute of Animal Health, Surrey, UK was highlighted.